A 6-foot-4, 307-pound sophomore from Cedar Hill, Texas, Shead is in his first year as a full-time starter for the University of Oklahoma football team.

Shead plays left guard for the No. 6 Sooners, a position he took over for the team midway through 2011, when he started five games and finished with 62 knockdowns – including a season-high 12 vs. Baylor.

Shead played with the 2010 U.S. Under-19 National Team that won the inaugural International Bowl, 14-0, over an International Federation of American Football World Team that included players from four continents.

Participating in that game was an opportunity for Shead to get better and to meet fellow athletes from across the country and around the world.

It is a memory he won’t forget and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to wear his country’s colors while playing the sport he loves.

USA Football recently discussed this season and the 2010 International Bowl with Shead. Here’s what he said:

How is the season going so far for you – personally as well as for the team? The season is going great. It’s going exactly the way that we planned for it to go, especially for myself.

What is the biggest challenge of starting on the offensive line at Oklahoma? It’s probably that you’re going against some of the best defensive linemen in the nation. Even though it’s a challenge, I like it. I think that is also one of the best things about being an Oklahoma lineman.

What do you remember best from playing with Team USA? I remember that whole week. I remember having a good time. I got the chance to go to Florida, and it was a pretty cool experience.

What would you tell high school seniors considering whether to join Team USA? I would say do it. It’s a great experience. You get to play with all these guys from across the nation and you get to wear the “USA” name, so it’s pretty cool.